Compare towns
Oakham vs Webster vs Westhampton vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Oakham | Webster | Westhampton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
12,228Highest |
1,552Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Westhampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Hampshire · Westhampton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hampshire Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.